Indicating device



March 5, 1929. H. SCHLAICH INDICATING DEVICE IN VENT OR Original Filed y 10, 1

'AITORNEYJ pPat ente d Mar 5, 192 9.

I UNITED s'r -res rarest series. 4

HERMAN scHLAIcH, or LONG rsnanncrrmnnw YORK;

INDICATING DEVICE;

Application filed May 10, .1916, Serial 1%. 478,430. Renewed June 17, 1921..

My invention has reference to devices for indicating an abnormal condition of the cooling liquid of an internal combustion engine; andparticularly a device of the kindlmerr tioned which isjadapted'to be responsive to [pressure in the circulatory system containing the liquid in case the cooling liquid becomes heatedto the point of vaporization, in order to give warning of the state of affairs 10 to an attendant.

' Theobject of my invention is to provide such anindicating device which is designed primarily for use in connection with the engines of automobiles and motor vehicles; in

fication, however, is to be construed as illustrative only; and embodiments of invention other than those actually shown herein may be adopted, to the extent defined by the meanings of the terms in which'thecla1ms appended hereto areexpressed.

' On the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing an engine and I a radiator fortheco'oling liquid, with an indicating devicemade according to tion applied thereto- I Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view 'of an indicating device made according to my m- 40 vention; V

Figure 3 is a view of the same indicating device, with the parts indifierent positions;

and I Figure 4: is a vertical sectional view of an- 1 other indicating device made in accordance with my invention; and j Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly insection, ofa structure embodying a modified form of the invention. The same numerals of reference identify the'same parts throughout. 1

my inven- In Figure 1 I show at 1 an internalcombus- 'tion engine having a jacket 2, to which a suitable cooling liquid, suchas water, is supplied by a pipe 3. "This pipe leads from a radiator 4,'and the water is returned from the en- 7 der ordinary practical conditions.

gine to the radiator bya pipe 5. i The jacket, the radiator and the pipes constitute means for circulating the cooling liquid through the i engine and, if desired, the circulation may be maintained byinterposing a pump, not

shown, in the line of the'pipe 3. As will be understood, the engine '1 may be mounted at radiator in ,front of it in the usualway; and as the air comes into contact with the radiator the forward end of a motor vehicle, with the v on the vehicle whenthe latter moves along,

the water passing from the 'engine lfto the radiator will have'its temperature lowered, and the liquid in thecircula-tin'g means is thus prevented from getting overheated unr d vice for indicating an abnormal condition of the cooling liquid is shown at 6in' Figure 1; and I prefer to mount the same at the top of the radiator; so that if the water should ever,

under any circumstances become heated to the boiling point, the pressure of the steam in the radiator above the level of the liquid therein will actuate the indicating device, and make thefactknown to the driver.

" On the top of theradiator at the frontend.

thereof is an opening 7' forladmitting water to fill the radiator and maintain the desired quantity of the cooling liquid: and this opening can be sealed by'a cap or closure 8.: The top portion of the radiatoris formed so that encloses a spaceabove the level of the liquidand below the cap 8; and this space is pre-.

vented from being occupied by the liquid by an opening 9, a little above the mouth of the pipe 5, and constituting an inlet to a tube 10. This tube 10 leads down under the vehicle and prevents overfillingof the radiator; and.

if the water is ever caused to vaporize, the

steam formed in the space above the liquid will be vented through the opening 9 and tube 10 at a rate suflicient to 'obviatedanger of the radiator being burst open..

The indicating device 6 may be constructed in various ways, but the one shown in Figures 2 and'3 comprises a hollow casing 11, V preferably-round, and formed of upper and lower sections 12 and 13; joined together so asto be enabledto'receive betweenthem a.

' the space inside the radiator above the opening 9. The rim of the lower section 13 may be lnturned to enable the diaphragm to rest thereon and the rim of ,theupper'section 12 may be bent outward and downward; making an inverted shoulder against which the edge of the diaphragm fits.

Of course the sectlons and the diaphragm may be soldered together, and. the diaphragm may be flat instead of corrugated if preferred. v

The upper section 12 supports a part controlled by thediaphragm and comprising'a vane 15 on a rotatable stem l6,'the vane be- 7 mg outside the casing, and the stem extending through central bearing in the upper sec' tion into the casing 11. On; the inner end of the stem 16 is secured a laterally extend- I ing pin 17; which normally contacts with a is not actuated.

by the chauffeur, and the indicatingdevice 6 The vane 15 therefore re-' mains stationary; extending either outward to one side, or directly-towards the drivers seat. Then the water gets heated to thepoint at which vaporization takes place, the pressure in the radiator above the water greatly increases at once, even though some of the vapor is discharged through the tube 10; and the diaphragm is forced-upward. This actionliberates the pin 17 and the spring 20 throws the vane over to present a particular side to the driver and notify him that trouble has developed; The side in question will be given a conspicuous color, so as to attract attention; and whenthe driver sees it, he acts accordingly. After-taking the needed measures to prevent injury .to the engine, the chaufl'eur turns back the vane by hand. To

permit the return of the vane in this way, the

arm '18 may be made to rest upona collar 21,,fixed to the stud 19, and having a .pro-

jec-tion 22 at its upper edge to engage thearm 18. A spring 23 will keep the arm 18against the projection 22, but. will allow the arm or pawl 18 to yield, and the pin 17 to pass it on the return ofthe pin. hen past the pawl 18, the pin 17 will be prevented "from being moved by the. projection 22, till the diaphragm rises and moves the pawl 18 above the pin'17.

Before actuation of the diaphragm, the parts are as indicated in Figure 2; after Va porization in the radiator the parts appear as in Figure 3. V

A stop 24 may be employed to limit the movementof the vane by thespring' 20; and this stop '24 may be made integral with the stud 19 giving thelatter the shape of a yoke;

for it may be made separate and secured to either the diaphragmor the casing, as will be understood. The vane constitutes spring-aetuated means, releasable by the diaphragm,

to producethe wished-for result.

I The indicating device 122el of Figures 2 and 3 can also be mountedon the dashboard, in which case a tube 13'may connect the boss of section 13to the cap 8. Disclosure is made i of such an installation in Figure 5. "The parts in Figure 5 are generally similar in structure and function'to the 'partsshown in Figures "-1 to 3, and corresponding reference numerals have accordingly been 'applied'fin Figure '5. i i In the indicating device illustrated 'inFi'gure 4, the rim of the section 13 -is turned out and up to provide a shoulder on which the edge of the section12 may rest; and twbdiajoined'together along their peripheral edges, constituting a hollow expansion body, whose 'phragms 14, both located in the lower section 13., areiused. These diaphragms are interior communicates with the inside of the radiator above the water level'through a short tube 25. This tube is made rigid with the lower diaphragm 14 in any suitable way ;'as by screwing one end into a threaded opening in a boss fixed to the middle of the lower diaphragm; and it may be secured to the easing by screwing the other end to a fixed disk placed inside the boss on the section'13, and having a threaded-hole at the center for'this purpose, Hence the tube 25 not only allows .the steam -tovget between the diaphragms14 views, there is a rotatable part or element conand distend them but also serves to support 1 them in the casing. As in the two preceding 7 trolledby the diaphragins, and including a vane 15 and a stem 16. The upper diaphragm.

has'a hollow stud 26 witha spiral groove or e slot 27; and'the pin 17 on the stem ,16is enga gedby this slot. 'Hence when the upper diaphragm is elevated by pressurein the radiator, the stem is rotated and the vane turned. WVhen this pressure no longer affects the diaphrag ms 14:, so thatjthe upper diaphragm falls, the vane is returned automatireally to its originalposition. In this modification of my indicating device, the vane is I ,7

protected by a glass,top28,resting on the edge ofthe'secti0n12, within the rim of'the section 13.

From the above description, it will be seen that my indicating device in'a'll its'forms is simple in design and sure in operation. Whenever steam 1s formed 1n the-water jackets of the engine, it must find'its way into the radiator and be vented bythe tube 10 hence the device cannot lfail-to work and give evidence of the fact tothe chaufi'eur when the latter sliouldknow what is going on.

Having described my invention, whatI beheve to be new and deslre to secure-and protect byLetters Patent of the United States 1s 1. The combination mg a convex surface on one side, a vane mounted to rotate ad]a'cent sa1d surface,

means on the opposite side of said element forrotating the vane, and a dome-shaped transparent cover for said vane having its periphery secured adjacent the border of said convex surface.

2. In an exposed indicating instrument readable at a distance, the combination of acasing containing operating mechanism, an upstanding flag-shaped indicating member operated thereby, and a dome-shaped transparent, protecting cover enclosing said indicating member, the upper edge of said-indicating member being shaped to follow substantially the curvature of said dome.

3. In an indicating instrument, the combination of a casing containing operative mechanism, a convex plate enclosing said mechanism within the casing, a rotatable member projecting through the center of said plate and actuated by said mechanism, a vane carried by said member, the edge of said vane adjacent said plate being curved so that it moves in a path equidistant from said plate, and a transparent cover enclosing said vane and conforming in contour to the path of the other edge of said vane.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a motor, of a system for circulating a cooling liquid to control the temperature of the motor, said system being sealed against flowing of liquid or vapor from the top thereof and'having an air space above the level of the cooling liquid, an open Vent communicating with said space and normally maintaining the system at atmospheric pressure, a visual danger indicator in view of the operator, and pressure actuated means constructed "and arranged to set the indicator to a warning position when super-atmospheric pressure occurs in the system.

5. In a motor vehicle the combination with an internal combustion, vehicle propelling motor, of a cooling system for sa1d motor comprising a radiator, a filling neck therefor,

an overflow pipe leading from the radiator to maintain a space in the radiator above the cooling liquid, in which steam may accumulate when the cooling liquid boils, a cap for sealing the filling opening of the radiator to prevent the escape of steam through said opening, and a pressure responsive visual warning instrument mounted on said cap.

6. In a motor vehicle the combination with an internal combustion, vehicle propelling motor, of a cooling system therefor, comprising a radiator, a conduit communicating with the radiator below the top thereof for carrying: off the liquid above the con duit and thereby limitingthe level to which the liquid may rise in the radiator-so that p aII' air space is provided in the'upper part of an element providv of the radiator, said conduit also maintain" ng the air space 111' communication with the atmosphere and normally at atmospheric pressure I but constructed to limit the rate of escape of airand steamfrom the radlator when boiling of the cooling liquid occurs so that the pressure in the air space may be raised by the generation of vapor, said radiator having a filling opening in the top thereof,a cap for sealing said opening, a visual indicator carried by said cap in view of the operator of the vehicle, and pressureresponsive means alsocarried by the cap. and eX- ing'pressure occurring within the air space of the radiator to operate the indicator to warn of danger.

7 The combination of means for circulatposed to the pressure in the air space for caus-' ing the cooling liquid of aninternal com- I bustion engine, a closure for said means, a

casing carried by the closure and having an outside convex surface at its top, a vane mounted to moveadjacentsaid surface, means in said casing responsive to pressure for controlling the actuation of said 'vane, and a dome-shaped transparent cover forthevane having its periphery secured to the casing around the border of said surface.

8. A device of the class described includ-- ing a spout closing member, an indicator hinged thereto, a spring for shifting said in- I dicator from a normal position, means normally retaining said indicator in said normal position, a diaphragm mounted on said spout closing member, and a member'operated by said diaphragm arranged to render said retaining means inefiective at a predetermined.

change in pressure within the spout.

' 9. A device of the class described comprising a body provided with an indicator mov ably mounted on said body, a spring for instantly shifting said indicator from nonin dicating position to full indicating position, means for retaining said spring against operation, and pressure operated means for releasing said spring. p 10. A device of the classdescribed comprising a body provided with an indicator movably mounted on said body, means for instantly shifting said indicator from non-in dicating position to full indicating position,

a latch for normally retaining said indicator 120 in non-indicating position, and fluid pressure operated means for rendering sa1d retaining latch ineffective.

11. In'a motor vehicle, the combination with a motor, of a system for circulating a cooling liquid to control the temperature of the motor, said system being sealed against flowing of liquid or vapor from the top theretheeoolingliquid, anepenvenhcommunicatoccurs in thesystem;

of-and ha vingan airspaee-abo'vethe levelof of :danger when super-atmospheric pressure ing with said space and normally-maintain In testimony whereoi, I have vsignelinriy 10 ing the syste1n-ab atmospheric pressure, a name to this specification, this 24th day of visual danger indicator in view;of theopera- April 1916.

tor, and pressure actuated means-constructed andarranged to operate the indicator to Warn i SCI- ILAICI- I. 

